Hoover Elementary School February 2016

SCHOOL HOURSThe school day for Students starts at

8:55 AM and ends 3:45 PMIf your child arrives after 8:55 AM

they will be counted tardy.Breakfast is from 8:20- 8:45 AM

Early Dismissal Days 8:55- 1:30

February

3 ..........................3:45 Student Council Meeting

4 .............................. Parent Teacher Conferences

9 .............................. Parent Teacher Conferences

10 ........................................... 1:30 Early Dismissal

16 ..............................911 Simulator for 3rd Grade

17 .........................3:45 Student Council Meeting

19 .......................................................Mixed Up DayPARRT Assemblies

24 .............................. 3:45 Culture Club Meeting

26 ......................................................... NO SCHOOL

29- 11 ........ Iowa Assessments (3rd- 5th Grades)

March1-11 ............ Iowa Assessments (3rd- 5th Grades)

2 ...........................3:45 Student Council Meeting

4 ...... Kindergarten/Preschool Registration for 2016-2017 School Year at

2500 Edgewood Road

8 .................................................Spring Picture Day..................................................... 6:30 PTA Meeting

9 ................................. 3:45 Culture Club Meeting

11 .................................................................Twin Day

14-18 .................................................... Spring Break

23 ........................3:45 Student Council Meeting

25 .............................................................No School

29 ........................Roosevelt Orchestra Performs

30 .............................. 3:45 Culture Club Meeting

IOWA ASSESSMENTSFeb 29th - March 11th

3rd – 5th Grades

Dear Parents,

We will be giving the Iowa Assessments the week beginning February 29th. These are stan-dardized achievement tests that are taken by children throughout Iowa.

Students should be encouraged to do their best on the Iowa Assessment, as they should for all of their school activities. Parents can help in the following ways:

1. Have your child get enough sleep each night.

2. Have your child eat a nutritious breakfast at home or at school each day.

3. Make sure your child is at school on time. If your child arrives late for school and testing is already in session, he or she will not be permitted to enter the classroom until the test is over, and will be required to make-up that test.

4. Try to schedule appointments outside of these weeks.

Hawk TalkHawk TalkHerbert Hoover Elementary School

Celebrating 50 Years

Note from the PrincipalHawk Talk

Hello Hoover families,

We are so excited to see all of you for conferences this month! Your children have made some amazing growth, and our student led conferences will provide them the opportunity to share their hard work with all of you. Having the stu-dents become an active participant in their conference helps our kids develop responsibility for their learning. It also provides our students the opportunity

to set goals that they want to work on, while providing time to reflect on all of the hard work they have already put in this year. Thank you in advance for coming in and being a part of our conferences. The support of our families is essential if our students are to reach their potential.

As we reflect at the midpoint of the year, our staff is also looking at our progress over the course of the year. As you may know, we use our School Improvement Plan each year, as does every school in the district, to set our focus on how we are going to help our students grow. This document also helps us determine how we are going to continue to grow as profession-als. Whether it is through our weekly observation and planning sessions with teachers, or the professional learning we participate in as a staff on early release days for your students, we are constantly striving to improve our craft, and do all that we can to make sure we meet the needs of all of your children.

In April, we will be trying something new for our Title 1 family night here at Hoover. You might recall that last year we had our science night, which was a big success here at the build-ing. This year, we will have a STEM night, which will also have a number of fun activities for our families to participate in here at Hoover. For those of you who are unfamiliar with STEM, it stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. We are trying to expand those oppor-tunities for your children here at the building, and this evening will be a great chance to learn more. While more information will be coming later, please save the date of April 28th for a fun evening here at Hoover.

Take care,Clint StonePrincipalHoover Elementary

TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS Parents/Guardians in the Cedar Rapids Community School District have the right to learn about

the following qualifications of their child’s teachers: state licensure requirements for the grade level and content areas taught, the current licensing status of your child’s teacher, and baccalaureate/graduate certification/degree. You may also request the qualifications of an instructional parapro-fessional who serves your student in a schoolwide Title I program. Parents/Guardians may request this information by calling the Hoover Office.

The Cedar Rapids community School District ensures that parents will be notified in writing if their child has been assigned, or has been taught by a teacher for four or more consecutive weeks who is not considered highly qualified.

PROPER WINTER DRESS/FROSTBITEAs cold weather approaches, students need

to be reminded of what they should be wearing before going outside. Hats, mittens or gloves and a winter coat are essential for all students to wear during winter weather. Much body heat is lost when hats are not worn and children lose body heat faster than adults. If your child participates in recess, please see that they also have boots and snow pants so they can enjoy the outdoor fun.

Frost nip usually affects areas that are exposed to the cold, such as cheeks, nose, ears, finger and toes, leaving them white and numb. Frost nip is an early warning sign of frostbite and if caught quickly, can be treated at home.

What to do: • Come indoors immediately.• Take off wet clothing.• Immerse chilled body parts in warm water

(100 degrees) until sensation returns.Frostbite is literally, frozen body tissue and must

be handled carefully to prevent permanent dam-age. It can occur very quickly and any exposed skin is vulnerable. Frostbite causes an aching pain or numbness. The skin feels hard with a white, waxy or purplish appearance. Ears, fingers, toes and the nose are at a greater risk. Treatment is usually done at a hospital or doctors office.

For more information, check out “KidsHealth.com”. Click on “About Kids Health”, then “First Aid Safety”.

The art room continues to be a busy place! 5th graders have been learning about the Ndebele people of South Africa and their beautiful houses. Students made their own Ndebele homes which are on display in the library. 4th graders have been getting hungry earlier in the day since they were working on their fantasy sandwiches, yum! 3 graders are applying watercolor techniques to a Native American blanket scene as they learn about Native American symbols. 2nd graders will be starting their clay projects soon, but they do not know what they are making, yet! Hint: It car-ries its house on its back. 1st grade has also been learning about Native Americans and the meaning behind the dreamcatcher as they create their own dreamcatchers. Kindergarteners will be starting their Native American project soon, they are finish-ing up their Mondrian inspired paintings. The art room is a place where things get used up, so we are always in need of different things; hand-held pencil sharpeners, newspapers, magazines, clean yogurt cups with or without lids, pencils, glue sticks and bottles. We appreciate all donations!!!

Thank you!Mrs. Licher, Hoover Art Specialist

ROOM NEWS

E-REGISTRATION PowerSchool is the student informa-

tion system used by the Cedar Rapids Community Schools. It gives parents the ability to access their child’s attendance and stored grades and to email their teacher or teachers anywhere there is internet access. You can update your child’s information for your school- new phone numbers, address, health information etc. You can access your parent account you set up last year. Or parents will need to set up their own account using the temporary access id and password which was provided to you if you do not have an account already. We will need every family to update their account as soon as possible this gives us current emergency contact information and permissions for field trips and computer use. Thank you!

HY-VEE CASH FOR STUDENTSPlease remem-

ber to bring in your Hy-Vee receipts. This is a very easy

way to raise money for your student’s school. For every $200 in receipts, Hoover receives a $1. No receipt is too small, all the amounts add up in the end. Please remind family and friends to save their receipts. We have a large blue bin in the front foyer for you to deposit receipts in.

Thank you!

YOUR SCHOOL’S HEALTH OFFICE Cedar Rapids Community

Schools promotes the belief that healthy students are better learn-ers. Each school’s health office is staffed by a school nurse and a health secretary. The school nurse has multiple building as-signments and will visit each school at least once each week.

They are available by pager for questions or consultation at all times. The health secretary is certified in CPR, First Aid and medication admin-istration and is in the health office every day.

The school should be informed of students’ sig-nificant health conditions. This information should be written in the space provided on the Student Emergency Card at the beginning of the school year. The information will be shared with school staff that need to know about your child’s condition. If the condition requires special adjustments in the school environment, the school nurse should be contacted. Any changes in student health status during the year should be communicated to the school nurse or health secretary.

Students are sent to the health office if they are injured or appear ill. Depending on the student’s need, their temperature may be taken. If the stu-dent has a temperature that is 100 degrees F. or over, the parent/guardian will be called and the student will be sent home. The student may return to school when they have been fever free, without the assistance of medicine. Temperature is not the only symptom that influences the decision to send the student home; general appearance and functioning are also important factors.

After a period of observation a decision will be made to do one of the following:

1.Call the parent/guardian

2.Allow the student to rest in the health office for a brief period

3.Return the student to class

Parents will also be notified of injuries, which appear to require close observation or medical attention.

If you have any concerns or questions regard-ing health issues for your child, do not hesitate to call your school’s health office.

The District offers an online Virtual Backpack site to support the efforts of community orga-nizations wanting to share information about educationally-based programming.

Individuals or organizations wishing to post material on the Virtual Backpack submit items electronically and approved materials will ap-pear online for families to access.

Organizations will � nd a link to submit � yers for consideration on the District homepage at www.cr.k12.ia.us . Families can access th e Virtual Backpack from their school Web site.

VIRTUAL

BACKPACK

SCHOOL FEES REMINDER!Please pay your consumable mate-

rial fees. Consumable Fees are due at the beginning of the school year. Consumable fees are $28.00 per student for the entire year. The fee is used to cover a part of the cost of consumable instructional materials.

Please see Patty in the main office or you may pay these on line with Cashonline.com.

THE CORNERSTONE

CLOTHES HANGER

The Cornerstone Clothes Hanger is a FREE clothes closet that is opened year round to help meet the needs of the people of our com-munity. It is located at 162 Jacolyn Drive NW across the street from Dollar General and next door to St. Mark’s Church. It is open every Tuesday morning 9-11AM and every Wednesday evening 5-6PM and Saturday 9-11AM. Donations re accepted during operating hours. For more information contact Jenny Drake at djdrake@mcleodusa.net or St Marks Church at 396-6361.

TheCornerstone

Clothes Hanger

STUDENTS THAT ARE SICK OR LATEWhen your child is

ill, absent or going to be late, please call the clinic at 558-2370. if you are leaving a message please be a detailed message, the time you called and a phone number that

you can be reached at if necessary. Students are expected to be in class and to make attendance a top priority. Parents/guardians of the student who will be absent are to notify the school at-tendance office prior to the absence. If advance notification is not possible, parents/guardians are asked to notify the school office on the day of the absence. If notification is not received, the office attempts to contact the parents/guardians at their emergency number(s). The school determines whether an absence is excused or unexcused. Excused absences include, but are not limited to, illness, family emergency, recognized religious observances and school activities. Unexcused absences include, but are not limited to, tardi-ness, shopping, hunting, concerts, preparation or participation in parties or other celebrations, and employment.

METRO CARE CONNECTIONThe Cedar Rapids Community School District is fortunate to have three “Metro Care Connection”

health centers. They offer free health care to all Cedar Rapids students without access to affordable health insurance or a primary care provider. Each center is staffed by a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Our nurse practitioners provide:

•Physical exams and immunizations

•Treatment of minor illness

•Basic laboratory tests

•Prescriptions for medications

•Health education and counseling

•Referral for complex medical conditions

Contact your school’s health office if you would like more information regarding Metro Care Connection.

If you have any concerns or questions regarding a health issue or if you need assistance obtain-ing a health care provider, do not hesitate to call your school’s health office.

Making Up Instructional Time Lost to Weather

The District is required to make up all instructional time lost when classes are delayed or cancelled because of weather. Options include using a make-up date as identi� ed on the District calendar, adding time to the beginning and end of a school day starting after spring break, or tapping into hours in excess of the state minimum requirement of 1,080.

Make up decisions for weather events are decided on a case-by-case basis. Families will always be made aware as early as possible following a weather event through the School Messenger call system and the District website.

Non-Discrimination PolicyIt is the policy of the Cedar Rapids Community School District not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (employment only), marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and socioeconomic status (students/program only) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. District employees with questions or a grievance related to this policy should contact Jill Cirivello, Director of Human Resources, 319-558-2421; jcirivello@cr.k12.ia.us. Students and others should contact Ken Morris, Manager of Student Equity, 319-558-1504; kmorris@cr.k12.ia.us. The District mailing address is 2500 Edgewood Rd NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405-1015.

BOX TOPS AND CAMPBELL SOUP LABELS

Please remember to save Box Tops and Camp-bell Soup Labels. Please see websites for more information and ways to earn- www.boxtops-4education.com and www.labelsforeducation.com. We earn money for our school and well as earning items for the playground and class-rooms. Thank you Hoover families for doing your part.

Follow the District on , @crschools, and

Parents of children who will be three or four years old on or before September 15, 2016,

are asked to register their child for preschool for the 2016-2017 school year.

March 4th Educational Leadership

and Support Center2500 Edgewood Rd NW

7a.m. – 7p.m.If you have any questions

regarding registration, please call Early Learning at (319) 558-2549.

If you know of a family that has a child who will be three or four on or before

September 15th, please tell them about the registration date.

Bring your child’s birth certificate and proof of family

income to registration.

PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION

IN-DISTRICT PERMIT 2016-2017 In-District Permits for the 2016-2017 school

year are available on the school district website www.cr.k12.ia.us and are due March 1st. Permits are to be submitted to the student’s attending school and parent/legal guardian will be notified in writ-ing of decision in April. Please contact Hoover’s main office with any questions 558-2369.

RECESS REMINDERS!50 degrees and above- Coats optional

40-49 degrees- long sleeves

Below 40 degrees- Jackets required

We go outside for recess unless it is raining or below 10 degrees.

Please remember to dress for the weather.

SAFETY CONCERNSCedar Rapids Community School District

takes your safety seriously and welcomes your input. Please contact your building principal/administrator and report any safety concerns that you may have. Thank you for helping us keep staff and students safe.

PROOF OF RESIDENCY All new students entering the Cedar Rapids

Community School District, current students en-tering a new building or current students who move to a new residence must provide the proper documentation to establish proof of residency. The name and address on these documents must match the name and address of the parent or legal guardian (or primary parent) of the student. The legal residence of a minor student is the same as that of his/her parents/guardians. If the residence of a minor is not the same as the parent’s, the residence must have been established for the sake of the student having a home and not for the sake of attendance in the District or a build-ing. Acceptable proof of residency documents are listed below.

• The parent/guardian name and the residence address must be listed on the document and residency at the address is required.

• Purchase contract with possession date or closing date

• Most recent property tax bill• Recent mortgage statement• Utility bill (gas or electric) for the last or cur-

rent month • If you rent, please provide one of the following:• A current, signed lease or rental agreement

with the rental term listed• Utility bill (gas or electric) for the last or cur-

rent month• A pay stub from your employer, for the last or

cur-rent month, showing the resident address• A notarized letter from the landlord with the

rental term listed. It must list the property owner’s name, address, and signature; and the name and signature of the parent/guardian re-siding at the residence. Additional information:

• Any student whose residency is deemed home-less will be verified by our District Homeless Coordinator.

• Falsification of any information or document required for residence verification, or the use of the address of another person without ac-tually residing there may result in revocation of enrollment at an attendance center and reassignment to resident school.Procedure 602.4c may be viewed in full at:

http://www.cr.k12.ia.us/aboutUs/BoardOfEd/sup-portDocs/PolicyHandbook/PolicyHandbook.pdf

Parents of children who will be five years old on or before September 15, 2016, are asked to register their child for kindergarten for

the 2016-2017 school year.

March 4th Educational Leadership

and Support Center2500 Edgewood Rd NW

7a.m. – 7p.m.If you have questions regarding registration,

please call the Office of Learning and Leadership at (319) 558-2247.

If you know of a family that has a child who will be five before September 15th,

please tell them about the registration date.

Bring your child’s birth certificate and proof of residence

to registration.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

SLEEP AND THE SCHOOL AGE STUDENTDoes this sound like your child or teen?

Eric’s teacher reports that Eric has been having difficulty paying attention in class. When he is redirected to pay attention, he talks back to the teacher.

OR

The School Nurse calls to report that Alison has been coming to the Health Office frequently complaining of headaches.

Students with behavior problems such as difficulty paying atten-tion, poor decision making, irritability, depression, violent tendencies and physical complaints could be suffering from sleep deprivation. Studies show that more than two thirds of children who suffer from chronic daily headaches also experience sleep disturbance, especially if they are staying up to late.

To improve sleep in children and teens follow the suggestions below:

• The bedroom should not be a place where a child/teen is stimulated with TV, videos, or com-puters.

• The bedroom should be a restful environment that promotes rest and sleep.

• Children and teens should have a routine that includes calm activities such as reading and preparing for sleep the last hour they plan to be awake.

School age children and teens need at least 9 – 10 hours of sleep at night to be alert, at their optimum health and ready to learn.

DISTRICT WELLNESS GOALSvImplement elementary health education

curriculum, including nutrition.

vDiscontinue using unhealthy foods for fundraisers.

vEnsure all snacks meet District Nutritional Guidelines for foods and beverages for schools, including vending, a la carte, snack lines, school stores, celebrations and fundraisers.

vDiscontinue using food/food coupons as rewards or incentives.

vRequire that students are physically active during the majority of time in physical education class.

vEnsure physical activity is not used for or withheld as a punishment.

vCelebrate birthdays and other events involving food once a month only.

Live

WELL NESS

WELLNESS POLICY-TWO NEW PROCEDURES Policy 610

Procedure 610.1a

Snacks – Nutritional Guidelines

It is the responsibility of each building to ensure all snacks meet District Nutrition-al Guidelines for foods and beverages, including vending, a la carte, school stores, celebrations and fundraisers. This applies to all foods offered, made available or sold during the school day, defined as the period from midnight before, to 30 minutes after the end of the school day.Each building shall do the following:

ØAll foods offered in school must meet guidelines; either selected from healthy snack lists or determined to meet guidelines using SMART Snack calculator.

ØDaily snacks in the classroom or those provided for brain-based learning activities are optional (allowed); implementation determined at the dis-cretion of individual building teams.

ØIf food is brought from home to be shared, it must be prepackaged and prepared by vendor with the exception of fruits and vegetables.

ØFoods provided that do not meet guidelines will not be served and will be returned to provider.

ØRecognize that provision of a snack is meant to fuel the student’s body and provides opportunity for engaging in nutrition education and promo-tion.

Procedure 610.1b

Wellness Fundraising Guidelines - It is the responsibility of each building to discontin-ue using unhealthy foods for fundraisers. Each building must ensure all snacks meet District Nutritional Guidelines for foods and beverages, including vending, a la carte, school stores, celebrations and fundraisers. This applies to all foods offered, made available or sold during the school day, defined as the period from midnight before, to 30 minutes after the end of the school day.Each building shall determine a school-wide plan and do the following:

ØInclude if/what healthy foods or non-food items/activities will be offered and how physical activity will be promoted.

ØConsider that foods/beverages used as rewards for students participating in fundraising activities must meet District Nutritional Guidelines.

ØThe sale of competitive foods, including foods of minimal nutritional value, may not occur one-half hour prior to, during, or one-half hour after the meal shifts of food service programs unless permission has been granted by the Manager of Food and Nutrition Department. (Board Regulation 902.2)

ØThis procedure will be communicated to parents/students/staff through student handbooks annually.